CENTRAL COAST - OURIMBAH SF - MTB - 19 december 2013

I have been here once before.

I parked along red hill road about 100 metres from tree tops adventure park. The trail head is at the carpark.

It was a great ride with three spots that I bypassed as they were a bit extreme for me. Overall, there are good climbs, long runs, small drop offs... a great variety.

I did better this time and look forward to the next ride when I know which way to go better.

distance - 7.27 km
time - 50 mins
av speed - 8.6 km/h
max speed - 20 km/h
elevation range - 59metres

CENTRAL COAST - WAMBERAL POINT - SNORKEL - 18 december 2013

A beautiful sunny day.

A walk up to the north end of Wamberal beach to the point for a snorkel.

The surf was small and the water clear except for some seaweed. There were a number of fish and in parts there were gardens of seaweed. On the occasion waves were breaking and they tried to push into the rocks. I finished at Spoon Bay. About 1 hour in the water.

AUSTRALIA - LAKE MACQUARIE - POURMALONG CREEK - KAYAK - 17 DECEMBER 2013

A hot sunny day.

I drove to Pourmalong Creek for a kayak. The creek runs into Lake Macquarie near Morriset.

I turned into Silky Oak Road, which is a private road leading to Morriset Psychiatric Hospital. Just after the bridge there is public access road - Eucalyptus Drive. There is plenty of parking and access to the lake.

I paddled north and turned into Pourmalong Creek. It was very quiet (except for the cicadas) and clean. Highlights included - a low bridge, kangaroos along the creek bank, eagle and other birds, fish and submerged and semi submerged logs that made for a good obstacle course.

The GPS map wasn't quite right on the end part of the paddle for some reason.

distance - 8.1 km
time - 1 hr 38 mins
av speed - 5.1 km/h

CENTRAL COAST - TERRIGAL HAVEN - SNORKEL - 15 december 2013

I have been waiting for a flat ocean and warm windless day to try out the new housing for canon d20.

I had some problems which I hope to overcome on next usage.

I've lost so many compact waterproof cameras that I decided to invest in the housing. so far so good.

The water was a bit chilly but pretty clear.

AUSTRALIA - AWABA SF - MTB - 13 december 2013

I spoke to a friend - Simon - yesterday about Awaba. He said it was great so off I went.

Parking is at Mount Faulk road and Jenkins Road. I parked near the front entry as the road didn't look very good for the van.

The ride was excellent (followed blue track)... road, easy to follow tracks, narrow and fun track, some very hard sections and some sections too hard for me and different vegetation.

The day was hot and the humidity was high. After a short while, I was soaked with perspiration.

I finished the ride and spent an hour and a half waiting for a tow from the NRMA as my parking spot was on sand. it looked good when I parked...someone must have changed it!

distance - 7.99 km
time - 48 minutes
av speed - 9.8 km/h
max speed - 25 km/h

CENTRAL COAST - WYEE CREEK - KAYAK - 9 december 2013

I parked at Ruttleys Road on a dirt turn off before Mannering Point Island. The road wasn't very good but it was a good launch spot.

 At first there were a number of small inlets to explore amongst the mangroves. At two nearby locations there were large drain pipes that lead from Lake Macquarie under Ruttleys Road. One group of pipes lead to Mannering bay and the other to Wyee Creek. I played in the pipes for awhile. It was exciting travelling along them.

I eventually spewed myself out at Wyee Creek and followed it. It was very quiet and pretty.

After a time, I came across the 'Enchanted Forest'. This was a sort of lake with a large number of dead trees. The leafless trees created a magical world at water level and tree top level.

I continued paddling onwards up Wyee Creek till I was blocked by a large number of fallen logs.

The paddled was fun! I sighted lizards, birds and eagles.



distance - 9.6km
time - 2:18
av speed - 4.2 km/h
max speed - 12.8 km/h

CENTRAL COAST - BOUDDI NP - BOX HEAD - MTB/HIKE - 7 december 2013

We parked at Grandview Crescent for the start of the bike and hike to Box Head.

It was an afternoon adventure. We walked/cycled up Hawke Head Drive till it levelled out some more then cycled onwards to the track to Box Head.

Along the way there were great views over Brisbane Waters and the beaches - Putty and Tallows.

We passed through a barrier gate after which there were a number of signs leading to other trails/tracks.

The hike to Box Head had good views north along the coast and south towards Broken Bay, Umina and Pittwater. We sat on the cliff point at Box head enjoying the view and the late afternoon sunshine.

CENTRAL COAST - BRIBANE WATER NP - MT WONDABYNE - MTB/HIKE - 28 november 2013

Jacinta has a new bike. Time for a road test.

We cycled to the base of Mount Wondabyne and then hike the track to the top.

It was hard going as the trail was step for 2 kilometres and the weather was hot. We had a number of rest spots. The hike to the top was relatively short but easy.


The summit has amazing view over the central coast. Looking to the east, there are pockets of settlement  amongst a sea of green islands. The breeze was cool on this side which was a relief. The western side was green as far as the eye could see in a range of 180 degrees. Amazing!

The ride back was downhill and quicker and so more fun!

distance - 7.7 km
time - 2 hours with rests and hike
av speed - 7.5 km/h
max speed - 26.5 km/h
elevation difference - 122 m

CENTRAL COAST - MOONEY MOONEY CREEK - KAYAK - 27 NOVEMBER 2013

Jacinta and I went for a kayak up creek on Mooney Mooney Creek.

It was a great paddle. Sections of the creek were very glassy with amazing reflections. Towards the end of the creek, we had fun manoeuvring around the rocks. The end was a series of rock pools with water cascading over the rocks. Nice!

distance - 6.42 km
time - 1 hour 27 minutes
av. speed - 4.4 km/h
max speed -7 km/h

CENTRAL COAST - KINCUMBA MOUNTAIN - MTB - 26 november 2013

A cycle today with Jacinta on Kincumba Mountain.




We tried out her old bike. It did the job but it was fairly rusted and the gears wouldn't change properly. Time for a new bike!

It was a fun ride. We stopped at the various views and had some fun doing rock hopping and dancing.

Jacinta went pretty well on the service trails but on the tracks she excelled!

distance - 4.34km
time - 26 minutes
av speed - 8.9 km/h
max speed - 21.9 km.h

CENTRAL COAST - STRICKLAND STATE FOREST - HIKE - 25 november 2013

Early surf... rest on the beach with coffee... off for a hike.

Jacinta and I drove to Strickland State Forest in Narara. We parked at the bottom car park.

The hike was great through rainforest, narrow dirt track strewn with leaves, suspension bridge, fallen tree bridge, creek, thunder, lightning, rain, leeches then lunch.

A great hike!

distance - 1.49km
time - 23 minutes
av speed - 4 km/h
max speed - 5.4 km/h

AUSTRALIA - SYDNEY HARBOUR NP - HIKES - 24 november 2013

Sunny day... Off to Sydney

We drove to North Head at Sydney Harbour National Park.

There was a short walk with a number of places to view the harbour. Along the way, we had great views, sea plane, helicopter, old observation posts and a blue tongue lizard.

Next, we drove to Shelley Beach. We had a swim, sat on the beach and relaxed.

Later, we drove to Dobroyd Head, which is another part of Sydney Harbour National Park. Once again there were great views of the harbour and Manly. the walk was along a narrow dirt track was it was more fun. We encountered an Eastern water Lizard along the way.

A great day with great hikes and nice beach.

CENTRAL COAST - ERINA CREEK - KAYAK - 23 november 2013

The morning was excellent, the sun was shining but not for long.

We started at near the 'punt bridge' boat ramp. The water was glassy and the tide was still going low.

 

Along the way, we saw birds and water dragons. We paddled under some low branches and had fun videoing each other.

Towards the end of the paddle, there were a few sprinkles of rain. About 1/2 hour after we finished it bucketed down.

distance - 4.75km
time - 1 hour 17 minutes
av speed - 3.7 km/h
max speed - 5.3 km/h